Time for that viewing port in the top hatch piece. I nearly called it a night after working all day on the bottom mounting ring but decided a bit of a push and I could get this curing tonight.

Pic 1 is after quite some cutting, filing and sanding on the top piece to make a 3″ X 2″ view hole. Then I went at it measuring my view port size and adding about .8″ around the edges. I got out my dremel router and knocked about 2.5mm down in 6mm PVC to make the view port.

Now I was going to place it with the flange on the outside but after testing the PVC to aluminium bonding (22/5/17 log) I much preferred the neater option of doing it as you see in pic 3.

Pic 2 shows me floxing the window in with a roughened aluminium surface and prepped PVC. Interestingly there are a couple of small air bubbles which would be unevenness in the glass but I can see that the flox is making a seriously complete bond and I’m happy.

The pic 3 result has a slightly recessed window. Perfect. In service I might just put some tape over it to protect the PVC and just do an occasional check to ensure my hydromat filter in the tank is not getting clogged.

Panels cut

Windows floxed in place

Topside view